California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) was honored with a prestigious Eddy Award during the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s (LAEDC) 24th Annual Eddy Awards gala dinner on Nov. 7. The award recognized CSUDH’s excellence in academia and outstanding efforts to provide access to higher education in Los Angeles.
More than 600 people attended the gala at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live to honor the “Most Business-Friendly City” award recipients: the City of Lancaster and the City of La Mirada. Other honorees were Citibank, and Phillip A. Washington, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority.
President Thomas A. Parham accepted the Eddy Award on behalf of CSUDH.
“In accepting the Eddy Award this evening, I want to thank the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, and its chair Bill Allen, for the outstanding work done in harnessing the power of public and private sectors to enhance the economic prosperity of the region,” he said. “Indeed, CSUDH is your partner in helping to create opportunities without limits, and prosperity without end.”
During his remarks, Parham touched on CSUDH’s status as one of the “greatest engines of social mobility” in the nation. He shared his thoughts about several of the university’s academic programs that tie directly into the needs of Southern California industry, such as the Information Systems Security program, Digital Media Arts, and the state legislative bill that has paved the way for CSUDH to develop a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program.
“We are proud of the work that we do, and of the strategic partnerships we create in our communities,” Parham said. “These strategic relationships, when combined with the educational experiences we deliver each and every day on our campus, create a transformative experience that helps our students, graduates, and our alumni lend their talents and expertise to address the challenges life confronts us with.”
Parham was introduced by CSUDH alumnus John Tracy (’76, B.S., physics), vice president and chief technology officer for The Boeing Company.
Tracy shared fond memories about his time as a student at CSUDH, including his relationship with professors who he considered “mentors and friends” whose guidance has been instrumental in his life.
“Although CSUDH has grown in just about every way since my time there, its welcoming and supportive spirit is as strong as ever,” said Tracy. “Today, the faculty and staff still strive to make lasting connections with the students they serve, and to help them succeed in every aspect of their lives and careers. It is those connections that continue to drive the university forward, and those connections that make awards like this possible.”
